Warmer Temps, Icy Cold Pond

Laugh It Up at Pond Skimming March 28

By Alicia Dziak

The ski season is winding down, but there are still plenty of laughs to be had on the slopes of Holiday Valley. Join other spring skiers for the annual Pond Skimming event at Holiday Valley on Saturday, March 28.

The event attracts competitors of all ages to the Yodeler hill, where they don costumes, ski down the hill, and at the bottom, skim across an icy cold pond.

You’ve never noticed the pond at the bottom of Yodeler? That’s because it’s only there this time of year. “We use the snow from the Winter Carnival snowbar, spread it out, then use a Snowcat to dig the hole,” explained Jane Eshbaugh, Holiday Valley’s marketing director. After that, it’s covered with a tarp and the snowmaking system is used to fill it up. Since the water is very cold to begin with, and surrounded by snow, the end result is an extra-chilly makeshift pond, perfect for challenging those daredevils as they head down the hill on skis and skim across.

About 60 people usually participate in this wacky event, which has been held annually since the early 2000s. “We started it because we wanted to create an event that brought skiers back for another weekend. The skiing and riding is really great in the spring, but people start to forget about us and this did the trick!” Eshbaugh said.

Want in on the fun? Register for pond skimming at Yodeler Lodge, starting at 11 a.m. The skimming itself starts at 1 p.m. Participants will be judged on categories such as Best Skimmer, Best Costume, Best Kid and Best Splash.

“We’re also doing the Mercy Flight Ducky Drop on Pond Skimming day,” said Eshbaugh, who noted that this portion of the event, originally scheduled for Winter Carnival weekend, was postponed because of the weather. The Ducky Drop is a 50/50 raffle for Mercy Flight, in which visitors can purchase a duck and the Mercy Flight helicopter will drop 500 of them into a “duck pond”— the duck that falls into the pond wins half the pot. Ducks can be purchased for $10 each.

To round out the event, there will be a mini snowbar, barbeque, drink specials and music by DJ John Barry from 3 to 7 p.m.

Enjoy the last big party of the season—get in some spring skiing, and enjoy a Holiday Valley tradition while participating in or just watching the annual Pond Skimming on March 28. You’re sure to have a blast!